MAYHEM – Chimera marks a ferocious return to unrelenting, aggressive black metal, delivering one of the band's most brutal and unhinged performances. Released in 2004, this album strips away atmospheric experimentation in favor of pure, razor-sharp aggression, blending relentless speed, chaotic riffing, and savage intensity into one of MAYHEM’s most vicious recordings.
Tracks like “Whore”, “Dark Night of the Soul”, and “Slaughter of Dreams” showcase a band at their most primal and violent, with Hellhammer’s blistering drumming and Blasphemer’s jagged, dissonant riffs carving through the chaos. Maniac’s manic vocal delivery adds an extra layer of disturbing, psychotic energy, making Chimera a truly unsettling yet exhilarating listen.
A stark contrast to the more avant-garde moments of Grand Declaration of War, Chimera is a merciless black metal assault, proving that MAYHEM remains a dominant force in extreme music. Uncompromising, raw, and utterly vicious, this album is a must-have for fans of blistering, warlike black metal